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- J. D, MCGANN -
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT RECOLLECTS THAT:
The start of the Tractor Works was early in 1910, in a little one story building on 26th Street. One of the first problems to solve was to plan layout of about five small engine lathes and some small drill presses and grinder, and in most cases these were obtained out of scrap machine pile at McCormick Yforks.
The first real tool outside of a couple of 4'0" Gang Radial Drill Presses, was a 60" Boring Mill for tizming and finishing fly v/heels. Next came a large 36" x 12' Engine Lathe for crankshafts, which was followed by a 36" x 36" x 12' Planer for the Crankcases.
Conditions around the building as to doors and unload¬ ing facilities was such that it was necessary to skid these ma¬ chines off the cars and drag them aroijnd building to their resting place, a distance of about 500 feet, as there was only one large door in the front of the biiilding. Later came the Bullaxd Mill v/hich ¥/e considered at that time one of the most all around tools in existence. These tools were so crowded, one could hardly move around to advantage.
The Drafting Room for Experimental and Engineering Departments was so small and crowded, that it was necessary for two draftsmen to work on one drawing board.
During the cold weather of 1910, heat for this build¬ ing was furnished by a small heating boiler and one minute we were roasting and the next minute we froze, and for a time everybody assumed he was the fireman.
Then came the problem of building the large wheels for the old 45 HP - Tv/o Cylinder Tractors. The first thing was to locate a space to build these wheels, which was finally located in a sisal storage shed, from v/hich the sisal had just been re¬ moved for making twine for the coming summer, A drill press was purchased to drill spoke and cleat holes and a large roll to roll the tires. To provide means to handle these tires and wheels, which were large and awkward, a chain hoist was installed in the roof of the shed after it had been strengthened to cariy the load.

Unpublished manuscript compiled by A.C. Seyfarth, a retired International Harvester advertising executive in the 1930s. The manuscript covers the history and development of the company’s tractor line, including the Farmall. The manuscript also contains collected reminiscences of company engineers who recount the earliest days of tractor and engine development at International Harvester.

- J. D, MCGANN -
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT RECOLLECTS THAT:
The start of the Tractor Works was early in 1910, in a little one story building on 26th Street. One of the first problems to solve was to plan layout of about five small engine lathes and some small drill presses and grinder, and in most cases these were obtained out of scrap machine pile at McCormick Yforks.
The first real tool outside of a couple of 4'0" Gang Radial Drill Presses, was a 60" Boring Mill for tizming and finishing fly v/heels. Next came a large 36" x 12' Engine Lathe for crankshafts, which was followed by a 36" x 36" x 12' Planer for the Crankcases.
Conditions around the building as to doors and unload¬ ing facilities was such that it was necessary to skid these ma¬ chines off the cars and drag them aroijnd building to their resting place, a distance of about 500 feet, as there was only one large door in the front of the biiilding. Later came the Bullaxd Mill v/hich ¥/e considered at that time one of the most all around tools in existence. These tools were so crowded, one could hardly move around to advantage.
The Drafting Room for Experimental and Engineering Departments was so small and crowded, that it was necessary for two draftsmen to work on one drawing board.
During the cold weather of 1910, heat for this build¬ ing was furnished by a small heating boiler and one minute we were roasting and the next minute we froze, and for a time everybody assumed he was the fireman.
Then came the problem of building the large wheels for the old 45 HP - Tv/o Cylinder Tractors. The first thing was to locate a space to build these wheels, which was finally located in a sisal storage shed, from v/hich the sisal had just been re¬ moved for making twine for the coming summer, A drill press was purchased to drill spoke and cleat holes and a large roll to roll the tires. To provide means to handle these tires and wheels, which were large and awkward, a chain hoist was installed in the roof of the shed after it had been strengthened to cariy the load.